BATOOL GHAITH (ABU DHABI)
Abu Dhabi’s next phase of growth is increasingly being defined not simply by how much is built, but by communities designed around the way people want to live, work and invest.
Developers, property and infrastructure experts told Aletihad that buyers are placing greater value on connectivity, schools, parks, retail, leisure, walkability and a sense of community, with liveability becoming closely linked to the long-term value of real estate.
Khaled Al Khoori, Board Member and Managing Director of ALAIN, said the definition of value in residential real estate has evolved beyond the individual property.
“Buyers are no longer assessing a property purely on size, specification or location; they are also looking at the quality of the life that surrounds it,” Al Khoori told Aletihad.
For developers, this requires thinking beyond individual buildings and creating environments that remain relevant to residents over time, he said.
“The real opportunity is to create environments that remain relevant to residents over time, places that enhance everyday life, foster connection and ultimately give people a reason to stay,” he added.
Ben Crompton, Managing Partner at Crompton Partners, said location remains the most important consideration, particularly proximity to schools, workplaces and amenities.
Community facilities such as pools, gyms and parks give master-planned developments an advantage over stand-alone buildings, while developers are increasingly introducing co-working spaces, cinemas and splash parks, he said.
Frederico Justus, Chief Executive Officer of Egis Middle East and South Asia, said Abu Dhabi’s strength lies in taking a coordinated approach to the different elements that make a city liveable.
“Abu Dhabi’s greatest strength is long-term, coordinated planning. Culture, leisure, housing and infrastructure are treated as parts of one vision rather than separate agendas, and that consistency gives investors, developers and residents confidence,” Justus told Aletihad.
He said the next phase of development should increasingly be measured by how infrastructure performs for the people using it.
“A new building adds floor space, infrastructure improves quality of life when it changes how people experience their day,” he noted. This includes journey times, the walkability of streets, ease of access to schools, parks and clinics and the reliability of utilities as the city grows.
Both Al Khoori and Crompton said quality of life and investment returns are becoming increasingly connected. Al Khoori said communities that are thoughtfully designed, well connected and responsive to residents’ needs are more likely to remain desirable over the long term.
“Quality of life drives the desirability of the community for both end users and tenants, and the more desirable a community, the better the returns will be for both rentals and resale,” Crompton noted.
Justus said the strongest cities plan residential development, parks, schools, healthcare, cultural venues, walkability and public transport together, rather than trying to add amenities later.
Cultural and Leisure Offerings
Abu Dhabi’s cultural and leisure offering is also influencing where people choose to live and invest, according to the experts.
Al Khoori said residential real estate, hospitality, education and lifestyle are increasingly part of the same proposition rather than separate sectors.
He pointed to Saadiyat Island as an example of that evolution, where residential, cultural and lifestyle offerings are increasingly integrated within the same destination.
Crompton also pointed to Saadiyat and Yas islands as distinctive destinations, noting that the capital’s cultural and leisure attractions add to the appeal of both locations.
“They are more than places to live, they are becoming globally recognised addresses,” he said. Justus said cultural and leisure destinations also give people reasons to stay and help create a stronger sense of place.
“Saadiyat has become a genuine cultural district rather than a collection of standalone landmarks, and Yas Island has matured into a leisure destination that serves residents as well as international visitors,” he added. Justus noted that Abu Dhabi’s approach increasingly reflects a shift from individual projects towards broader city-making.
“Above all, Abu Dhabi invests in places for free time with the same seriousness as places for work. This balance is what attracts talent and families and is why the emirate’s growth increasingly feels like city-making rather than simply construction,” Justus said.